As fans swarmed the field in celebration, Lee went up the Coliseum tunnel on the back of an electric cart. Three plays before the slant route, he had been hurt trying to catch a deep ball from Kessler.

“I just got kicked in the shin,” Lee said.

“So it's like a bruise, basically. It's going to be hurting for a while.”

Presumably, that means Lee did not reinjure the previously sprained knee that has slowed him since late September, although Lee did not practice Monday.

Lee looked aggressive and confident against Stanford, and finished with six catches for 83 yards. He also caught a two-point conversion pass from Kessler.

As expected, Lee played a bigger role than he did the previous week against Cal when he caught only one pass and sat out the entire second half of the Trojans' blowout victory.

USC has been cautious with Lee, who sprained his knee Sept. 28 against Arizona State then aggravated the injury three weeks later against Notre Dame. Lee said he felt healthy against Stanford, until the end.

“They let me do what I was supposed to do,” Lee said.

“(Receivers) Coach Tee (Martin) just said, if you feel uncomfortable with anything and you're hurt, step out, but if you're comfortable just stay in. I stayed in, and when I got a little winded I let Darreus (Rogers) go in.”

WEEKLY HONOR

Kessler and Heidari were named as the Pac-12 Conference's offensive and special-teams players of the week. Kessler completed 25 of 37 attempts for 288 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. Heidari missed an extra point but made field goals of 23 and 47 yards.

BACK TO WORK

USC returned to practice with its usual light, no-helmets, 40-minute session.

In addition to Lee, Leonard Williams (shoulder) and Silas Redd (knee) did not practice. Interim coach Ed Orgeron is expected to give an injury report after today's practice.

NOTES

USC is a 221/2-point favorite in its game against Colorado on Saturday. … USC's game against UCLA on Nov. 30 at the Coliseum will start at 12:30 p.m. (televised by KABC/7, ESPN or ESPN2) or 5 p.m. (televised by KABC/7). The time will be announced no later than Sunday.

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